# pupil

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpjuːpəl/ · frequency rank #9,517

## Definitions
1. A learner at a school under the supervision of a teacher.
2. One who studies under supervision of a renowned expert in their field.
3. An orphan who is a minor and under the protection of the state.

## Etymology
From Middle English pupille, from Anglo-Norman pupille (“orphan”), from Latin pūpillus (“orphan, minor”), variant of pūpulus (“little boy”), from pūpus (“child, boy”).

## Easily confused with
- **pups** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pupil-vs-pups)
- **puri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pupil-vs-puri)
- **Putin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pupil-vs-putin)
- **puppy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pupil-vs-puppy)
- **pupils** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pupil-vs-pupils)
- **ppl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ppl-vs-pupil)
- **pup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pup-vs-pupil)
- **PPI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ppi-vs-pupil)
- **Pil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pil-vs-pupil)
- **pull** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pull-vs-pupil)
- **Phil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phil-vs-pupil)
- **Puig** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/puig-vs-pupil)
- **PAPI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/papi-vs-pupil)
- **pail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pail-vs-pupil)
- **papal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/papal-vs-pupil)
- **peril** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peril-vs-pupil)
- **pubic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pubic-vs-pupil)
- **Patil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/patil-vs-pupil)
- **pulpit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pulpit-vs-pupil)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ppuil`, `ppupil`, `puipl`, `pupill`, `pupli`, `puppil`, `uppil`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pupil